Sheedy building a giant monster out west

I like this 'expert' fella for a number of reasons which I will leave for another time and place. Collingwood and Essendon you reckon, well I hope they are still going for histories sake, strong to be sure. Of course Union, that code that purports to be of international status, but in reality is only competitive between a handful of nations, will probably only boast one nation on the planet with any interest in 100 years time truth be told. No prizes for guessing that this honour will go to those South Sea Poms and their All Blacks who will manage against all odds to sustain this tradition despite an even more meagre population. The GSR or Global Sporting Renaissance will by then have rendered such class based and imperial the games to the cultural museums for quaint Sassenach activities i.e. Jousting, Tug o War, Royal Tennis and Test Cricket, Morris and May Pole Dancing to name a few, that will mnage to attract a devout and rather quirky following, taking their passion for this little known piece of Albion history to festivals and the like throughout the Brittish Isles and even potentially parts of Europe.

Wasn't it a bloke called 'McNamara' who played for St Kilda, who was recorded at place kicking 90 yards in the old parlance?

stabpass Do you still remember how to pul off one of those grass cutters that is your namesake? I remember doing my ankle in on occasions when I didn't quite pull it off. Yes I was already aware of the VAFA V NZ rersult. WFN are again talking the NZ effort up, saying this U20 side averaged 17years, so why they call them U20's I don't know. The VAFA U18's were again selected not so much on merit but in order to allow some of their not so highly rated players a cultural experience. This side consisted of 16 and 17 year olds predominately I believe. I think they even threw in a few 15 year olds. The second match flattered the Kiwis due to the very windy and showery conditions which negated the Vics skill set, whereas the first was played in almost perfect conditions and was a more accurate reflection of the gap between what was essentially an U20 NZ rep side with a distinct size advantage again no doubt and the VAFA lads. I can't see any progress for all the attention NZ is afforded in our game while PNG continue to play second fiddle in reality yet are so much more suited to our code - in my humble opinion. Anyway, my thoughts are well established here on Roar in respect of internationalising our game and especially where any NZ focus is concerned and very un PC when it comes to the latter sacred cow.

http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20111017134205988 The Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) under 18's have just completed their third annual tour of New Zealand, coming away undefeated.

I believe you have missed my point - again, however I at least hold onto some hope that I may have a part ally in SP. I have absolutely no qualms about our code attracting interest from those from other codes. This is nothing new and whether they come via the domestic or international markets doesn't concern me one iota. I do however believe quite fervently, that to try and manufacture a sudo international league which will realistically ONLY include NZ, is to compromise the domestic culture of our great game. There is a lot of dialogue currently, that suggest this may well transpire and for me, this is the thin edge of the wedge in this respect. We do have more than enough of these sorts of sudo international and international contests for the masses to engage with. I believe the US are a good analogy in that their homegrown sporting brands have not been subjected to any campaign or crusade to force themselves upon the globe and whats more if they were, they would't be compromising theirs the way we will. The U.S. are culturally comfortable with their codes being distinctively domestic rather than suffering a reverse cringe by seeing this as an inferior trait. We stand to cut of our nose to spite our face by compromising the code in this respect. I am quite tired of the Ians on this thread, interpreting me out of context. Simply, those who have an affinity for our game will come to us and more importantly, we actually don't need to go to them and especially at the expense of our own loyal Australian demographics. I honestly don't think this sentiment is an unreasonable or irrational one to have.

I remember it well, 66 i.e as a Saints fan. The point encourages accurate kicking which should encourages asa major skill set of the game. Why and for who do we need to dumb down the code - the philistines of experts persuasion?

Nahhh, as with everything else, Republican is wrong with his folk-and-blood crap. There is a Brazillian style of association football, and there is an Argentinian way to play rugby football. Likewise, Green Bay used to play smashmouth, and now with Aaron Rogers they are a finesse side with a crap offensive line. I like Marty Clarke too, but the thing about Mike Pyke is he wins an elimination final deep in the fourth quarter ... and he hadnt played the game until his twenties. You have footballers, and they can learn to play how they need to learn to play. Dan Carter would have been an awesome outside mid, and Jerry Rice could have dominated as a winger, and Paul Kelly could have run through the SCG and looked for the loose man outside for the short pass and picked the tactical kick to the space the man was going to be in instead of the way he ran through the SCG and looked for the loose man outside for the short pass and picked the tactical kick to the space the man was going to be in instead. Its all footy. They are all great games that do credit to those that play them.

I like the point, St Kilda loved the point in 1966, Collingwood loved the point, when the ball bounced the right way for them in 2010, and they then proceeded to go on and win the flag next week. The point is good, the point is legendary, the game would not be the same without the point, and my point to you is read NF's post, he makes a very good point.

Agree entirely about historical/cultural aspect, it's also funny that in this age of global sport, Australian football is bigger than at any time in its history, and far more widespread, from all acounts globalisation was to be the demise of AF, when in truth, it appears to be gaining momentum. I wonder how big the game would have been, had the British Empire spread it as they did with other codes, but on the other hand, is Republican somewhat correct, in that the more international the code becomes, the less we recognise it. Gotta say, i like Mike Pyke, but for mine, Marty Clarke is one that stands out as a natural footballer.

Stabpass its actually watchable to anyone ,unlike the league one that reminds me of benny hill type humour ,you even know im right too afl will never gain more than small interest worldwide mostly played by expats ,unless the point is removed then itll go global ha ha ,why dosent the afl look after its own backyard rather than waste money

the expert if you're going to troll be subtle about and do it correctly lol.

Couple of youtube videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQCy5gtnyY4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY1MNQ3EX5Y Same bloke - nice intercept in the first one, then beats a couple of blokes in black jumpers in a footrace. In the second, he picks the perfect option both times, and delivers the ball where it's needed. Really good footy players can learn to play anything - it's just historical accident and, well, money that determine what you will pay.

Very funny, backhanded compliment if ever i heard it !.

You can't be a real person, LOL, but anyways ........ a hundred year old rivalry is great, in fact some go back 150 years, that is even better...... Melbourne V Geelong. If AF makes some impression O/S thats great, but i dont think the future of the sport is hinging on it, but any interest is welcome, thanks for yours.

ill give afl a compliment a union person can watch afl footy show though struggles to watch the bogans on league one ,that is odd im sure youll agree

face it afl will not get big on the international scene why waste the money american footballs tried this to bugger all effect its still dallas v new york ,and in a 100 years itll still be essendon v collingwood ,odd how an outsider to game can see this but not soo called afl know it alls .i dont believe the 100 odd yard placekick either yards and it wouldve been irish bloke in those days measuring no credibility

Ah, the old days, when wingers were thrown out of the game for hiding a comb in their sock.

Umpires notice blondes as well, and we all know what the sexual preferences of umpires are !.

Yes, and what do they have to do with a game of running, passing, rucking, mauling and scrummaging ? As rugby union is about contested possession for the ball, you might as well bring out a twiddlywinks board for all the relevance they have to the rest of the game !

You seem smitten.